Too Much Freedom, And Too Little

December 02, 1991

The Bloomfield Town Council has approved an ordinance that benefits everyone in town: Dog owners are obligated to clean up after their pets. The law is needed. Area towns and cities that lack such a law -- and that's most of them -- should adopt a similar one.

The council heard the usual arguments that a pooper-scooper law would be difficult to enforce and that the proposed fines -- $50 for first offenses, $99 for others -- were too high. No, police won't be stationed on every corner glowering at people walking their dogs. And residents may not always observe offenders, making it difficult if not impossible to link pet to evidence. But the ordinance at least creates a presumption that dog owners should not do unto their neighbors' lawns what, surely, they would not do unto their own.

Most people prefer to think of themselves as law-abiding. And when a law simply confirms common notions of courtesy, few folks should be bashful about reminding their neighbors to obey it. Police, of course, should enforce the law. But the threat of fines and embarrassment should be enough for most people.

A white deer traipsing through Bloomfield and Windsor in recent days has brightened the daily lives of residents as only unexpected visits by wildlife can. "It's nice," mused one surprised observer. "It gave you the Christmas spirit very early."

The deer may find all the attention normal; it escaped from a petting zoo at the Copaco Shopping Center on Cottage Grove Road in Bloomfield. But it clearly remembered the joys of ranging about as it pleased, and remained wary and nimble enough to enjoy a taste of freedom.